Hi! So this is my first story and I'm really excited about it! I think the tradition is to tell you guys that I don't own the Mortal Instruments (they belong to Cassandra Clare) but I do own the story and the plot so I don't want it reproduced or translate without my permission. Please do review (English is not my native language and I'm more than happy to hear about what you think).

Love, Lilly.

Prologue: When All Hell Breaks Loose

The infirmary was depressing, Jace Herondale thought. It felt more like you were going to die there rather than be saved. Everything was white and silver, the medical equipment, the curtains on the window and the neon bright light hurting his eyes. He had been there, lying on the small uncomfortable bed, for almost an hour and his feet were fidgeting quicker and quicker as his patience wore thinner and thinner. He had better things to do than wait.

The bruises on his chest were extensive, although it looked worse than it actually was. He had no idea how he was going to get out of this one. Clary would just freak. The thought made him sigh as he ran a hand through his blond hair, closing his eyes.

"So, how's our acrobat doing?"

Jace sat up straight, his mouth perked up in a grin. Alec was slouched against the glass wall, turning over a small object in his hands. His black hair was still dripping with water and he had changed clothes. Jace shrugged, slightly grimacing as pain shot up his chest.

"It was pretty stupid you know?" Alec continued, his blue eyes staring lazily at him. "Even for you."

"What can I say, I like a good sport." Jace stood up and went over the first aid kit, searching for any kind of pain medication he could find. He gulped down a tall glass of cold water with a couple pills.

"Clary is going to freak out when she sees you like this."

Jace's grin instantly vanished. He glanced at his watch. Alec was right, of course, he knew that. He usually didn't need much work finding plausible excuses for the small cuts on his face and hands he came home with sometimes, but this – he suspected he had a broken rib – would need a massive lie. The prospect of lying his way out wasn't appealing at all. He shook his head trying to focus on one thing at a time, starting with the pain that would soon slowly fade.

"Plus, Jules' pissed," Alec added with a half grin.

"Can we go now?" Jace asked. "Where's Hodge, anyway?"

"I don't know," he answered.

A noise in the distance suddenly caught their attention – a door closing in a loud bang at the end of the hallway. Both their heads snapped up at the sound of heels clicking against the tiles.

"Jules?" Jace suggested.

"No. She was on her way to the DCS' office. No way she'd make it back that fast."

"Then who—? Oh dear Lord," Jace whispered as a blond head popped through the door.

"Hey there!"

He cursed under his breath as Aline slipped inside. With one look-over, Jace could see way more than he wanted to. Her skirt – in addition to having been shortened once more (as if it would get his attention –which it didn't) – was rumpled, as was the white transparent blouse she was wearing. Dark lines circled her eyes; so a long night, probably because of an op somewhere in Europe. She had dyed her hair again to match his color but hadn't succeeded yet, and he could smell her perfume from where he was (the exact same perfume he had bought for Clary in Paris a few weeks back); so a long night and still infatuated with him, he gathered.

"What do you want, Penhallow?" Jace asked, grabbing his cell phone from the jacket that had been thrown on the floor when the nurses had rushed him in before disappearing to the coffee machine. Five messages, all from Clary. He pressed a button and stuck the phone between his head and his shoulder, putting on a clean shirt while Aline was openly undressing him with her eyes. His attention was nonetheless completely absorbed as soon as Clary's voice filled the speaker.

"I just heard you were back. I just wanted to know if you were okay, that's all," Aline explained with an innocent look that made Alec want to hit her.

"Of course," he muttered. "And without any ulterior motive I suppose."

Aline spun on her heels, shooting him the most evil look he'd ever seen. "What are you implying, Lightwood?" she spat.

"Yeah, what are you implying Alec?" Jace repeated, grinning as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket.

"Never mind," he whispered, waving her accusations off.

"I'm fine," Jace answered.

"Oh good," she said, as if she had expected him to say something else. "If you need anything, don't hesitate," she added, wobbling on her platform heels as she walked out of the room. Jace and Alec sighed.

"You think she'll ever understand?" Alec asked, warily.

"Not in a million years," Jace chuckled, buttoning his shirt. "I'm irresistible."

Alec rolled his eyes. "You're stupid and arrogant, that's what you are."

Jace smirked. "Let's go."

The hallways were deserted as the two men made their way out of the infirmary in silence. The noises seemed to bounce against the walls and the ceiling, giving them a strange feeling of being either watched or followed. Finally, Alec spoke up.

"It was him, wasn't it?" he asked. "The man on the roof of the factory? That's what got you distracted."

"I don't get distracted," Jace replied.

"Jace! Stop being an ass. Was it him or not?"

Jace nodded. Alec shook his head, silently processing the information. His hands were clenched in tight fists at his sides.

"How long do you think it'll take, exactly?" Alec asked. "Before you realize that you're playing with fire here."

"Until I catch him. Then it'll all be over. Simple."

"Right. He's bound to figure out who you are —who we are– you know. And when he does, all hell is going to break loose. And then everyone we love is going to pay for our mistakes: Magnus, Clary, my sister... None of them are ever going to be safe again. We should let Jules handle it."

For a split second he saw what Alec meant. He saw Clary — his sweet and innocent Clary — laying on their bedroom's floor, bathed in a pool of her own blood, the soft lines of her child-like face contorted in an expression of utter terror, her green eyes wide and glassy, and her red hair like a sun in a deep red sky.

"I'll put a bullet in Morgenstern's brain before that happens."

R&R I want to know if I should continue posting or not!

See ya!